Lawn mower



June 4, 1929- c. K. PERKINS 1,716,085

v LAWN MOWER Filed Nov. 29, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I J3 y,

June 4, 1929. 1- c'pK. PERKINS LAWN MOWER Filed Nov. 29j 192e 5sheets-sheet 5 WITNSSES tzatented dune 4l, i929.

entre raras ljldttl Lawn Mower..

Application filed November 29, 1926. Serial' No. 151,328.

This invention relates to mowing machines, more particularly to powermowers in which the cutting mechanism is actuated by a prime mover.

lt is among` the objects of the invention to provide a power mower ofdurable and compact mechanical constructionwhich shall comprise aminimum number of parts and which shall be of relatively light weight ascompared with other types of power mowing machines heretoforeconstructed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a power mowing machine inwhich the opera-ting mechanism and the prime mover are assemble-d incommon housing, comprising a. unitary structure, having` cover meinbers,the removal of which makes all of the operating parts accessible forinspection or renewal.

Another object of this invention is to provide a power mower having anovel form of cutter mechanism comprising` multiple cutting elementsoperated by a common actuating device which elements are individuallyrenewable or accessible for repair.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mower of the abovedesignated character which shall be invertible so as to present thecutting mechanismen either side of the supporting wheels, whereby thecutting element is brought to the position in which it is desired toadvance the mower for cutting operations, without turning the wheelsupon which the mower frame is carried as is necessary in prior types ofmachines.

Other objects of the invention include a simple adjustable device forregulating the distance of the cutters or cutting` edges from the groundand for levelling the machine, means for assembling t-he cutting,`elements to render them efficient in their operation, and a supportingbracket for the main frame which functions as a fulcrum support when themachine is inverted, and also constitutes transverse braces, tie rods,or ground rests for the machine frame.

here are ltwo principal types of power mowers in use, one of whichembodies the well known reel cutter comprising angularly spaced spiralcutting blades, and the other employing a reciprocating cutter barcooperating with a. stationary bar, and in both of these types it hasbeen common practice to operatively connect the cutting mechanism to thedriving mechanism for the purpose of maintaining the speed ratio of thecutting mechanism constant with the'speed of travelof the mower over theground.

In the rotating cutter types the traction wheels are operated to rotatethrough the drive mechanism and are either geared to the cutting member,or the latter may be directlyconnected with the drive as well as thetraction wheels. Such a mower necessarily involves a complex mechanismand a cumbersome design.

ln accordance with the present invention the drive mechanism functionsto actuate the cut-ting elements only, and has no connection of any kindwith the supporting or traction wheels, thereby assuring a uniformcut-ting speed, and permitting the mowing machine 'to be readilymanipulated by the operator in any direction with. facility and ease.

In the accompanying drawings constituting a part hereof and in whichlike reference characters designateA like parts Fig. 1 is a plan View ofa power mowing machine, with its top covers removed, embodying theprinciples of this invention; Fig. 2 an end view thereof; Fig. 3 anelevational iew of a portion of the front thereof; Fig. l an endelevation illustrating the relative position of the handle, mower frame,and cutters, while the machine is being inverted; Fig. 5 an enlargeddetail view of the adjusting mechanism for regulating the relativeheight ofv the cutting member with respect to the ground; and Figs. 6,7, and 8 are plan views of the cooperating cutter members.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawing the structure therein illustratedcomprises a housing 1 provided with offset or bracket portions 2 formounting an electric motor 3, and having an extended frame portion 4 forcarrying or supporting` the cutting elements. The frame 1 is journalledby suitable axles 6 to a pair of wheels 7 which may be of very lightconstruction since they are not provided with gear teeth or other driveconnecting means. The motor 3 is mounted on the frame portion 1 bystraps or brackets S which are adapted to seat on the frame extensions 2to which they are secured by bolts 9.

The motor shaft 10 is in coaxial alignment with a drive shaft 11 that ismounted in is interposed between the motor shaftl 10 and drive shaft 11,and has its clutch elements secured to the respective shafts to permitrelative movement thereof. The shaft ll .carries a worm or spiral gear14a the axis lframe portion 4 by suitable screws 2 bers.

ot which is disposed at' right angles to a pair of shafts and 16. rllhegear element 14 is intermeshed withv the teeth ot a gear wheel 17 whichis connected to rotate with the gear wheel 18 both oit which are mountedon the shaft 15. The gear wheel 18 engages a gear wheel 19 that isjournalled on the shaft 16, and the gear wheel 19 is provided with acrank pin 20 adapted to receive a link 21 that is connected to atriangular shape bracket 22. The Vbracket is connected by bolts 23 to areciprocating bar 24, and the latter is actuated by the rotation ot thegear wheels 17, 18 and 19. On the frame portion 4 are secured aplurality of stationary cutters 25, Fig. 6, having cutting teeth 26, theteeth being of skeleton form to provide the necessary rigidity andstrengtl without presenting too great a surface area ci contact to theircooperating members, ter the purpose of cutting down friction to aminimum. The cutter elements 25 are secured to the 7, as shown. Aplurality of movable cutting elements 28, Fig. 7, provided with skeletonteeth 29 corresponding to the teeth 26 ot the cutters 25 are superposedon the latter, and pivotally mounted thereon, so that, when the movablecutters are subjected to angular motion, there will be a relativemovement of the teeth of the stationary and movable cutters, Fig. 8,which produces the necessary shearing or cutting action. The teeth ofthe cutters may be chamfered to increase their cutting` edect, as seenin nig. 4.

The movable cutters 28 are provided with a shank portion 30 which ispivotally Connected by suitable means to the reciprocating bar 24 sothat reciprocatory movement ot the bar will impart an angular oroscillatory movement to the cutters 28.

rIhe stationary and movable cutters 25 and 28, respectively, are securedto the trame portion 4 of the mower by screws or bolts 31, Fig. 2,having a bearing bushing S2 disposed therearound, the bushing icing ofthe size of the openings provided in the cutters 25 and 28, and shims orliners, not shown, are disposed over a portion oit the surface, andbetween the members 25 and 2S, to properly space the cutting edges otthe cutter mem- Upon the top cutter members 28 is placed a cup-shapednutand washer 33 and the cover member 34 of the mower 'trame 1 issecured directly to the members 31 by screws 35, which lock the elements81 and 33 with. the cover 34. The frame member 1 housing the drivemechanism and cutting elements is provided Yith a cross frame or yokewhich may be 4curved at its central portion as shown in Fig. 1 formounting a reel 41 that carries an electrical conductor cable 42 whichextends through the handle 43 at one end, from which it extends to befastened to a source oi' electrical energy such as a power line, and theother end of the cable is extended through the trame 40 in a suitablemanner and is con nected to the motor 3. rlhe cross trame 40 isassociated with the mower frame 1 by a movable connection with a segmentmember 45 to which it is pivotally joined at 46, Fig. 2. The member 45is provided with a pair ot step lugs 47 and 48 which permit a limiteddegree of movement of the frame portion 40 without producing anycorrespending` movement oi' the member 45 Jfor a purpose as will behereinafter set forth.

The end of the member 45 is oi' segment shape and provided with gearteeth 49 which are adapted to engage the teeth 50 of a pinion memberthat is formed integrally with the stud shaft 6 of the mower frame, theteeth 50 being formed over a portion of the pinion only.

- Attached to the member 45 is a supporting bracket 52 having legs 53and 54 provided with cross members 55, Fig. 1, whichconstitute crossties to provide a rigid trame portion adapted to support or carry theentire weight ot the mower. The bracket 52 is connected by a pivot bolt56 to the segment member 45 for the purpose ot providing relativemovement therebetween which movement is imparted by manipulation of theyyoke trame 40 to which the handle portion is attached.

As shown in Fig. 2the bracket 52 fund tions as a support for the mowertrame and the cutting end ot the frame is further supported by guidewheels 58, which are joui'- naled in brackets 59, Fig. 5, that arepivotally connected to the trame portion 4 of the housing 1 to permitrelative movement therebetween. The bracket 59 is movable in a trame 60that is provided with adjustable set screws G1 which function as stopstor a iinger 52, Fig. 5. The adjustment or the screws 61 determines therelative distance oi the cutting edge of the cutters from the ground.This distance may be varied by adjustment of either the top or bottomscrew G1 depending upon which side of the cutter bar is adjacent theground.

One of the features ot the invention is the invertibility of the mower,that is, inverting the cutting mechanism through the frame portion 40 ofthe handle member which is accomplished by the segment member 45engaging the pinion member 50 and the cooperating supporting bracket 52in the tollowing manner.

As shown in Fig. 2 the mower is in its normal cutting position 'foradvancement in the direction ot the guide roller 58 the trame 40 et thehandle portion resting against the stop 48. This position ismaintaineduntil at the end of the cut it is desired to reverse the direction ofadvance ot' the mower. The operator swings the handle in the directionof the stop 47, and until the frame 40 strikes the stop 4'? no change inthe position of the cutter mechanism is eifected. Upon further advanceof the handle the bracket 52 by virtue of its pivotal connection 56 withthe segmentmember pivots around the shaft 6 until its leg 53 engages theground, as shown in Fig. 4. Further movement of the handle in the samedirection will produce a rotation of the pinion member by virtue of itsgear tooth engagement with the segment member 49,' and the pinion 50being constituted a fulcrum member by the leg 53 resting upon the groundwill cause the entire frame l carrying the motor and cutter mechanism toswing about the shaft 6 as a pivot, and passing through the frameportion 40 it will assume a cutting position in the reverse directionwith the leg 54 engaging the under side of the machine frame inidentically the same way that the leg 53 engages the frame in itsposition shown in Fig 2. F or this reverse cutting position of themower, the frame 40 of the handle portion will rest upon the stop 47 andthe mower is lowered to rest the guide wheels 58 on the ground. Themower may then be advanced in the direction of the cut without at allchanging the position of the supporting wheels 7.

rIlhis invertible feature of the mower mechanism is a. decided advantagein the manipulation of power mowing machines and is only made possibleby the symmetrical disposition of the motor and drive mechanism in themachine housing.

In its operation the cutting mechanism is actuated through the drivegears by thc drive motor 3 which actuates the drive shaft l1 which inturn rotates the gear elements and by virtue of the crank connection ofthe link 2l and bracket 22 with the driven gear 19 and the reciprocatingbar 24 the movable cutter elements 28 are oscillated about their pivotbolts 31 at a uniform cutting speed. Since there are no operativeconnections whatever between the drive mechanism for the cutters, andthe supporting wheels, the machine may be advanced in the direction ofthe cut at any desired speed but the advance is more or less dependentupon the cutting resistance met with or lthe denseness of growth throughwhich the cutter mechanism advances so that the cutting speed maysomewhat vary when the operator exerts a steady push or pressure on thehandle bars. One of the desirable features of isolating the cuttingmechanism from the wheel members is the ease with which the mower may behandled in adapting it to irregular cutting paths for working aroundshrubbery, walls and the like.

The invertible feature of the cutter is likewise a. marked imprevementin power mowers as it eliminates the heretofore exertion necessary inmoving the machine around by pivoting it on,- one wheel and withdrawingthe machine from the end of its cut for the purpose of turning the same.

It is evident from the foregoing description of the invention that powermowers constructed in accordance therewith, are of light weight anddurable construction, embodyinga minim-um of wearing parts, and themachines are susceptible of use for close cutting, without requiring anygreat amount of exertion by the operator.

Although a specific embodiment of the invention has been herein setforth and described it will be obvious to those skilled in the art thatvarious modifications may be made in the details of constructionwithoutdeparting from the principles thereof.

I claim: l f l l. In a mowing machine, the combina-tion with a machineframe journalled in a pair of supporting wheel members, of asubstantially yoke-shape handle supporting member movably connected tosaid frame, a cutting mechanism mounted in said machine frame, and meansfor inverting said machine frame to reverse the position of the cuttingmechanism while maintaining the wheels in fixed position.

.2. In a mowing machine, the combination of a machine frame journalledin a pair of supporting wheel members, cutting mechanism mounted in saidframe, a substantially yoke-shape handle-supporting member, a rack andpinion connection between the arms of said member and each side of theframe, and a ground support bracket on each side of the frame pivotallyconnected to said rack,

movement of the handle-supporting member on a horizontal axis pivotingthe frame on said brackets as a fulcrum to invert the frame and cuttingmechanism to cut in a reverse direction.

8. In a mowing machine the combination with a machine frame journalledin a pair of supporting wheel members and cutting mechanism carried bysaid frame, of a pair of segment shaped racks in gear-tooth engagementwith said frame, a yoke-shape handle support pivotally connected to saidbrackets, and a ground support pivotally connected to said bracket, saidgroun-d sup- 'port constituting a fulcrum for turning the machine frameto invert the same.

4. In a mowing machine the combination with a machine frame journalledin a pair of supporting wheel members, a cutting mechanism mounted onsaid frame, of a pair of segment shaped brackets ingerir-toothengagement with said frame, a yoke-shape handle support pivotallyconnectedv to said brackets, and a ground support pivotally connected toeach of said brackets, said han- -dle support being movable to impartangular Y movement to said segment brackets to rotate the machine frame,by virtue of their gearllO tooth engagement therewith, on its supportingWheels, thereby reversing the cutting mechanism.

5. In a mowing machine, the combination With a cutter trame, of acutting mechanism mounted on said frame, an inverting mechanism forreversing the position ot' the cutting mechanism to cut in the oppositedirection, and mea-ns tor adjusting the C epth of cut tor eitherposition of the cutters.

6. ln a mowing machine, the combination with a cutting mechanismcomprising a trame, stationary and oscillating cutter members mounted.thereon for cooperative cutting` action, and motor-operated mechanismtor actuating said osci lating cutters; of means 'for inverting` theposition of 'the cutting mechanism in the machine to out inthe reversedirection. f

7. .ln a mowing machine, the combination With a cutting mechanismcomprising a frame, a plurality ot toothed stationary cutters, aplurality of movable toothed cutters mounted on the stationary cutterstor cooperative cutting action, and motor-operated mechanism toroscillating said movable cutters relative to said stationary cutters; oimeans for inverting` the position of said cutting mechanism in themachine to cut in the reverse direction.

8. In a mowing machine, the combination of a frame, a handle connectedto said frame, cutting mechanism pivotally supported in said framecomprising a plurality of lined segmental cutters, a plurality ofmovable segmental cut-ters, and motor-operated mechanism 'foroscillating said movable cutters relative to said vlined cutters, andmeans associated With said frame and cutting mechanism for inverting thecutting position of said cutting mechanism When the trame is pivotallyturned on a horizontal a-Xis.

9. A mowing machine comprising a pair of supporting Wheels, a trame`iournalled in said Wheels, a plurality of segmentally serrated linedcutters disposed on said rame, a plurality of segmentally dentatemovable cutters pivotally mounted to cooperate with said lined utters,motor-operated mechanism for oscillating said movable cutters, segmentalracks mesning With pinions on said frame, a handle pivotally connectedto said racks, and yoke-shaped ground supports pivotally connected tosaid racks, said handle being adapted to actuate said racks to bring oneside of said ground supports against the ground to act as a 'ulcrum toraise and reverse the cutting position of the trame and cuttingmechanism upon if' rther movement ot said handle.

l0. A mowing machine comprising a rame, supi'iorting Wheels, liXed andoscillating toothed cutters, motor-actuated mechanism tor operating saidcutters, means for reversing the cutters tov cut in the oppositedirection, guide Wheels, brackets pivotally connecting said guide Wheelsto said trame, and means lier adjusting the angular disposition ot sai-dbrac iets to raise or lower said frame tor va-.rying the depth of out.

ln testimony whereof, l sign my name.

CECL K. PERKNS.

